VEHICLE: 2004 DODGE DURANGO LIMITED WITH THE 5.7L HEMI V8 ENGINE. 130,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAYS SPEED (50 MPH) IT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. ROD FAILURE. CONNECTING ROD SIMPLY BROKE IN HALF FOR NO REASON. FAILURE IS NOT THE RESULT OF NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE! THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AS PRESCRIBED IN THE OPERATORS MANUAL WAS STRICTLY FOLLOWED USING THE RECOMMEND OIL (MOBIL 1 5-30W). MECHANICS SUMMATION OF CAUSE WAS "POOR QUALITY CONNECTING ROD FROM MANUFACTURER". THE INTERNALS OF THE ENGINE SHOWED NO WEAR AND WAS VERY CLEAN. REPLACED ENGINE WITH USED ENGINE COST WAS OVER $3000. *TR
2011
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS HAVING TROUBLES WITH THE AUTO START. READ ABOUT A SERVICE BULLETIN (NUMBER: 08-024-11 REV. A) THAT FIXES THE ISSUE WITH A FLASH REPROGRAM HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER WERE NOT AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE. THEN FIVE DAYS AGO THERE WAS A FAN TYPE NOISE FROM THE REAR BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAN NOISE STAYED ON ALL NIGHT AND DRAINED MY BATTERY. I JUMP STARTED THE CAR AND IT HELD A CHARGE AND RAN FINE BUT THE FAN NOISE NEVER STOPPED. I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE FAN NOISE IS THE ABS STAYING ON BECAUSE THE TIPM IS BAD. I'M SURE THAT PARTS OF THE CAR STAYING ON BY THEMSELVES ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO THE ABS MODULE MUST BE OF SOME SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR NOT STARTING COULD BE DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP NOT BEING STARTED BY THE TIPM THIS ALSO IS CONCERNING. THE PART IS ON A 800+ BACK ORDER. SO THIS IS AFFECTING OVER 800 CUSTOMERS. I'VE MET ONE PERSON HERE IN MY CITY WHO SAYS HE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING AND 9 OTHER PEOPLE AT HIS DEALERSHIP ARE WAITING ON THIS PART. MULTIPLE POSTERS ARE STATING THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING OVER A MONTH FOR A PART AND CHRYSLER IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. FAULTY COMPUTERS THAT KEEP CERTAIN COMPONENTS ON AND OTHERS OFF IS VERY SCARY AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE 800+ BACK ORDER IS CONCERNING. NOT TO MENTION THAT A LOT OF THE OWNERS ARE BEING TOLD TO DRIVE THEIR CARS IN THIS CONDITION WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. "JUST KEEP TRYING TO START IT MANUALLY UNTIL IT STARTS". PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND MAKE CHRYSLER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY PRODUCT. *JS